Assessment of Lake Sturgeon Reproductive Capacity and Associated Habitat Requirements in the North Saskatchewan and Saskatchewan River Systems

北萨斯喀彻温省和萨斯喀彻温省河流系统的湖鲟繁殖能力和相关栖息地要求的评估

• 批准号: 544555-2019
• 负责人: Rogers, KevinK
• 金额: $ 4.37万
• 依托单位: Saskatchewan Polytechnic
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 2
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=755779
• 关键词: Assessment; Lake; Sturgeon; Reproductive; Capacity

This proposal, a collaboration with Husky Energy Ltd., concerns the management of risk factors affecting critically endangered Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) populations in the North Saskatchewan River. The initial objective was to better inform spawning and rearing habitat remediation efforts following an oil spill in spring 2016. Engage-funded research (2018) reported abundant spawning habitat in lower sections of the North Saskatchewan River, but did not detect spawning activity or spawn products. An unusually warm spring likely contributed to poor spawning conditions; water temperatures exceeded thresholds for Lake Sturgeon follicular development and egg incubation. Extreme water temperatures are an ongoing concern likely to accompany future climate change scenarios. To better evaluate links between spawning and available habitat, the research will focus on reproductive capacity within the population. Lake Sturgeon spawn intermittently due to an extended multi-year developmental cycle that differs for males and females. Typically, invasive procedures are required to distinguish between sexes and reproductive stages. Ultrasonography invites a new, non-invasive approach: adapting wireless handheld ultrasound vet scanners for the purpose of determining sex and reproductive capacity of Lake Sturgeon in the field. It would permit quantifying variable demand for spawning habitat in the Saskatchewan River system. This research has significant conservation value. It can allow fisheries managers to track proportionate investment and degree of synchrony among male and female spawners, permit future forecasts of spawning intensity, and assist in the delivery of instream flow needs. For Husky, and industries working in similar ecosystems, reproductive capacity would portend the risk of instream activities and help quantify the realized impacts of environmental perturbation. For Saskatchewan Polytechnic, this conservation-based research brings awareness to the endangered status of the Lake Sturgeon in the North Saskatchewan River, immediately adjacent to our home community of Prince Albert, and permits students & faculty researchers to develop applied, technological, analytical, and public outreach skills.

这项提案是与赫斯基能源有限公司合作提出的，关于影响北萨斯喀彻温河极度濒危的鲟鱼（Acipenser fulvescens）种群的风险因素的管理。最初的目标是更好地为2016年春季石油泄漏后的产卵和饲养栖息地补救工作提供信息。参与资助的研究（2018）报告了北萨斯喀彻温河下游丰富的产卵栖息地，但没有检测到产卵活动或产卵产品。一个异常温暖的春天可能导致了恶劣的产卵条件;水温超过了鲟鱼卵泡发育和卵孵化的阈值。极端水温是一个持续的问题，可能伴随着未来的气候变化情景。为了更好地评估产卵和现有生境之间的联系，研究将侧重于种群内的生殖能力。湖鲟鱼产卵间歇性由于延长多年的发展周期，不同的男性和女性。通常，需要侵入性程序来区分性别和生殖阶段。超声波检查邀请一个新的，非侵入性的方法：适应无线手持超声兽医扫描仪的目的，确定性别和繁殖能力的湖鲟鱼在外地。这将允许量化萨斯喀彻温河系统产卵栖息地的可变需求。这项研究具有重要的保护价值。它可以让渔业管理人员跟踪投资比例和男女产卵者之间的同步程度，允许未来预测产卵强度，并协助提供即时流量需求。对于赫斯基和在类似生态系统中工作的行业来说，生殖能力将预示着不稳定活动的风险，并有助于量化环境扰动的实际影响。对于萨斯喀彻温省理工学院，这项以保护为基础的研究使人们认识到北萨斯喀彻温河中鲟鱼湖的濒危状况，紧邻我们的阿尔伯特亲王家庭社区，并允许学生和教师研究人员开发应用，技术，分析和公共宣传技能。